Thursday, September 19, 2024
MENOMINEE – The annual M&M game was held Friday August 30th and for the 6th year in a row it was the Menominee Maroons who came out on top. This time the Maroons amassed a 49-6 lead before the final seconds ticked away, giving them another year to hold onto the traveling trophy, “The Log”.
When this one started, the first look those in attendance got was one of a balanced game. After Menominee scored and was stopped from extra point, Marinette responded back with a score of their own, again with no extra points.
With the score essentially back to zero-zero the game lappeared to be an even match. But as time progressed the Maroon giant awoke from its yearlong slumber and found its footing. After multiple scores the game quickly began to spiral out of control for the Marines.
Then the hits started coming in, one after another till the Maroons found themselves way ahead eventually wrapping up another M&M game with a final score of 49-6.
“I loved our enthusiasm tonight,” said Menominee head coach Chad Brandt. “I liked the effort to win the line of scrimmage and defensively our pursuit to the ball, I just loved it. Coach Kewely and Chouinard had those guys rally, we do a lot of drills to emphasize that and I thought they really showed up tonight.”
Menominee’s offense was rolling the whole night and ended up loading on the yardage with 287 yards of total offense while holding the Marines to 105 yards. Three turnovers helped the Maroons along the way as two fumbles were recovered and one interception.
After the opening kickoff Marinette’s offense took to the field for the game’s first drive. It was met by a stout Menominee defensive front. On the game’s opening play Chase MacGregor took the handoff and was met by Menominee’s Isaiah Odom who stopped the run without any gain.
Marinette worked out four yards over the next two plays before being forced to the three and out.
Menominee’s first possession was built over eight plays and would end with a touchdown. After the first play drew a flag and moved the Maroons back five, Menominee’s Tanner Theuerkauf dropped back and found an open Dawson Bardowski for a 22 yard passing gain. After a couple of rushes that worked the Maroons into a second and goal situation, Menominee’s Odom finished the drive with a three yard rush and a 6-0 lead. An incomplete pass in the corner of the end zone left the Maroons without any extra points.
Marinette’s second drive looked worlds different from their first one as the nights longest play from the line of scrimmage occurred. On a third and five situation Marinette’s Mason Hofherr rolled outside and found nothing but open field as he rushed down the Menominee sideline on his way to a 75 yard TD run. Marinette also had an incomplete pass on their two point conversion attempt leaving the game knotted up 6-6.
On the first play of Menominee’s second drive Theuerkauf broke loose on a QB keeper and went roughly 30 yards. Sitting on the 20 yard line Menominee’s Clayton Miller found a big hole in the Marines defense, thanks to some great blocking, and busted loose for a 17 yard gain, helping to set up Theuerkauf on a three yard keeper that broke the goal line. After the 2pt conversion attempt the game was back in the Maroons favor 12-6.
Again Menominee’s defense set the tone with a huge push on the first play of Marinette’s following drive, as Matthew Webb broke through for the tackle and a one yard loss for the Marines. Unfortunately for the Marines, another three an out forced them to punt.
Menominee’s special teams got in on the game in the ensuing punt as Bardowski carried his way to the 11 yard line.
Sitting just outside of the red zone Menominee trudged its way forward and nearly was stopped on the four yard line, were it not for a big push by the Maroon offensive line and a quick cut by Theuerkauf, they just might have. But Theuerkauf’s keeper found its way through the defense, giving the Maroons a 20-6 lead.
Menominee’s defense forced another three an out after a couple broken plays by the Marines, helping to get the ball back in great position thanks to a blocked punt on fourth down. Starting from the 23 yard line it took Menominee three plays to find the end zone, doing so on a six yard keeper from Theuerkauf. A successful two point conversation raised the score to 28-6.
“Our doggies up front, our hogs, I’m very proud of them,” said Brandt. “It’s great when you have linemen who love being linemen and build a bond and bevy of backs that can do some things. We share the ball and don’t care who is getting it, we all play for the Maroons. The defensive line was just great too, there were not many seams out there.”
Menominee’s defense kept the pressure on with time waning in the half. During Marinette’s ensuing possession the Maroons forced a second down fumble, marking the Maroon defense’s first turnover of the season. After nine plays the Maroons were finally stalled out by the Marines, who forced the Maroons to a turn over on downs after a failed fourth and 25 attempt. Menominee got backed up during the drive do to consecutive penalties.
On Marinette’s first play of the drive, Menominee’s Nathan Komp got through the line for a five yard tackle for a loss. During the next play Marinette’s quarterback dropped back for a pass, after releasing the ball, the sailing pass was sighted and tracked down by Menominee’s Theuerkauf who snagged the interception, bringing it to the 22 yard line. With only 12 seconds left after the pick, Menominee was unable to cover the ground needed for another TD and the game entered halftime with Menominee up 28-6.
“We tell the kids if we have guys around the ball things are going to happen,” said Brandt when speaking about the importance of generating turnovers. “The last thing that is going to come is the turnovers but you got to have yourself in good position. So kudos to the guys for just being relentless and getting to it…. Tanner looked like he wanted to go all the way. And even when he goes through the line he looks great. Whether we throw to him or have the ball in his hands, he always helps.”
Theuerkauf extended the lead in the third after a nine yard keeper broke the goal line. After a successful two point conversion the score was at 36-6.
During the fourth quarter the Maroons found a score off a Miller 15 yard rush and later in the quarter a forced fumble and recovery by the Maroons helped to set up a one yard TD rush by Jackson Myszak to bring the score to 49-6.
Menominee finished the day with 255 rushing yards. Leading the ground effort was Theuerkauf who amassed 118 yards and four TDs off 12 carries. Miller followed up with 53 yards and one TD on six carries while Odom added up 27 yards and one TD on eight carries. Myszak finished the night with six yards and one TD on three carries.
Through the air Menominee’s Theuerkauf had 37 yards off a four of 12 showing. Komp reeled in two of those passes for 11 yards while Bardowski got 22 off one. Miller posted one reception for four yards.
The Menominee defense recorded three turnovers on the night while also amassing five sacks.
Marinette’s offensive effort was led by Hofherr who got 83 yards and one TD off five carries on the ground. MacGregor added up 14 yards on 12 carries while Ethan Doubek got 12 yards off four carries.
The community also really showed up for this playing of the annual M&M game with loaded stands. This season also sees improvements made to the Menominee football complex. With new stands constructed to replace the crumbling ones and a new score board.
“It was an awesome sight to see,” said Brandt about the community support. “Even just being out there for warm ups. The energy from both communities, you just can’t beat it. Once again the group that put the stands in place here and all the work put into this has been such a blessing.”
